by LAURIE KELLMAN
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Police tackled and forcibly dragged away a man dressed in black and carrying two suitcases Monday after he stationed himself in front of the west side of the U.S. Capitol.
The midday incident, which occurred during one of Washington’s busiest tourist times, the annual flowering of cherry blossoms throughout the city, had forced police to evacuate that side of the Capitol in fear of a possible explosion.
Police, some armed with assault rifles, moved in slowly behind the man, who faced the Capitol from a plaza below its west entrance. From a crouch behind the wall, officers sprang up and ran full tilt at the man, who never moved.
He was tackled by two policemen and dragged to an ambulance. Police walked the man away from the scene without putting him in the ambulance. They left the suitcases behind.
Police later X-rayed the suitcases and detonated them with what they called a “water jet disruptor.” A boom was heard, but it was not immediately known whether the suitcases exploded or the sound came from the device.
Some spectators applauded as police dragged the man away.
Before the standoff ended, Capitol police spokesman Michael Lauer said the man had said nothing to police.
Some of the most powerful officials in Congress have offices on the west side of the Capitol, among them House Speaker Dennis Hastert, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid.
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